Water cooler



W. B. TERRY April 20, 1965 WATER COOLER 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 19, 1962 William- 8. Terry INVENTOR.

BY MW April 20, 1965 w. B. TERRY 3,179,292

WATER COOLER Filed April 19, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 26 y l W/7/iam 5'. Terry INVENTOR.

W. B. TERRY April 20, 1965 WATER COOLER Filed April 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m w n William B. 7rry INVENTOR.

BY I! United States Patent M 3,179,292 WATER COOLER William B. Terry, Houston, Tex., assignor of one-half to Nell T. Henson, Houston, Tex. Filed Apr. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 188,811 Claims. (Cl. 222-52) This invention relates to a novel and useful water cooler and more specifically to a water cooler which comprises an upright cabinet having a top and three upstanding sides defining one open side in the cabinet. A shelf isprovided within the cabinet and supported from the shelf is a water cooling reservoir into which water to becooled is pumped from containers supported by a low wheeled support frame which includes an upstanding side that may be moved into engagement with the cabinet in order to form a closure for the open side thereof. Air pump means is supported from the cabinet and the water container means is sealed and is communicated with the outlet of the air pump means and includes the water outlet communicated with the interior of the water cooling reservoir. In this manner, by use of a pressure sensitive switch to actuate the motor means for the air pump means, the air pressure within the water containers may be raised sufficiently to force water up into the water cooling reservoir disposed thereabove.

A suitable refrigeration unit is provided within the cabinet and is operatively associated with the water cooling reservoir in a manner whereby it may be utilized to cool the water within the reservoir.

The main object of this invention is to provide ameans by which a water cooling cabinet may be provided and utilized in a location not serviced by utility water outlets and drains. The water cooler of the instant invention carries its own water supply which may be replenished from time to time and necessitates only a source of electrical potential for actuating the motor for its pump means and the motor for itsrefrigeration unit.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a water cooler which may utilize one or more upstanding glass jugs or other similar containers as a water supply for its water cooling reservoir with the water container or containers being supported from the cabinet in a manner whereby they may be readily moved from the location of the water cooler to a point serviced by a utility water outlet inorder to fill the water containers or to a point where filledandsealed water containers are stored.

Still another object of thisinvention, in accordance withthe preceding object, is to provide a low wheeled supporting frame for the upright water containers pro cooler including a cabinet having shelf supporting means and-a shelf supported thereby which removably supports the water cooling reservoir and the refrigeration unit of the water cooler within the cabinet whereby the water cooling reservoir and refrigeration unit may be readily removed from the cabinet in order to perform maintenance thereon.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a water cooler in accordance a with the preceding objects. which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device which will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively.

trouble-free in operation.

3,179,292 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the water cooler of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the water cooler;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3 and showing the wheeled support frame, upright removable side wall and the water containers in a removed position in phantom lines; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the wheeled supporting frame for the water containers.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the water cooler of the instant invention. The water cooler 10 includes a pair of end walls 12 and 14 and a side Wall 16 which are interconnected at their upper ends by means'of a top 18.

The area defined between the edges of the end walls 12 and 14 and the top 18 remote from the side wall 16 define an open side of the cabinet generally referred by the reference numeral 20. r

A wheeled supporting frame generally referred to by the reference numeral 22 is provided and the caster wheel assemblies are adapted to support the medial plane of the supporting frame 22 spaced slightly above the floor 25 on which the cabinet 20 is disposed.

The wheeled support frame 22 includes a pair of opposite side angle iron members 28 and 30 which are interconnected atcorresponding ends by means of opposite end angle members 32 and 34. One or more rings 36 and 38 are supported from longitudinal members 40 and 42 secured between corresponding portions of the longitudinal angle members 32 and 34 and embracingly engage the lower ends of one or more water jugs 44 and 46; Water jugs 44 and 46 are provided with neck portions 48 which can be closed with either a solid stopper 50 or a screw cap (not shown).

In operation, a stopper 52 is secured in the neck portion 48 of the container 44 and includes a pair of bores through which an air inlet pipe 54 and a water outlet pipe 56 extend. The air inlet pipe '54 terminates at its lower end a spaced distance below the stopper 52 whereas the water outlet pipe 56 terminates a spaced distance above the bottom of the jug 44.

A partial shelf 58 is supported from the side wall 12 and has disposed thereon an air pump 60 which is driven by means of an electric motor 62 The air pump 60 includes an air outlet pipe 64 having a check valve 66 disposed therein and a flexible conduit 68 communicates the outlet pipe 64 with the air inlet pipe' 54. Additionally, it'will be seen that a pressuresensitive switch 70 for actuating the motor 62 is communicated with the air outlet pipe 64 by means of a pipe 72 and, accordingly, when the pressure within the air outlet pipe 64 and the jug 44 drops below a predetermined'amount, the electric motor 62 is actuated to effect operation of the air pump 60 in order that the desired pressure within the jug 44 may be again obtained.

A water cooling reservoir generally referred to by the reference numeral 74 is supported from a removable shelf orbase 76. The base 76 rests upon shelf supporting means 7 8 withinthe cabinet 20 and the shelf 76 also supports a compressor 80, a condenser 82 and a blower assembly 84. While the coolant lines leading from the compressor 80 to the condenser 82 and from the condenser 82 into the water cooling reservoir 74 have not been shown, it is to be understood that any suitable form of coolant lines can be provided.

The water cooling reservoir 74 includes a water inlet 86'which is communicated with the water outlet pipe 56 by means of a flexible conduit 88 and the water cooling reservoir 74 also includes an outlet 90 with which an outlet neck 92 having a control valve 94 is communicated.

The end Wall 14 has an opening 96 formed therein over which there is disposed a suitable grill 98. The flow of air effected by the blower assembly 84 passes through the condenser 82 and then outwardly of the cabinet by meansof the opening 96. The support frame 22 includes an upstanding wall assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 100 and the wall assembly 100 is of a size to comprise a closure for the opening defined between the free edges of the end walls 12 and 14 and the top 18.

Accordingly, in operation the full water jugs 44 and 46 may have their lower ends positioned within the corresponding positioning rings 36 and 38 supported by the supporting frame 22. Then, the stopper 52 may be engaged with the neck portion 48 of jug 44. Neck portion 48 of jug 46 may be closed with either a stopper 50 or a screw cap. Then, the air pump 60 is actuated by means of the electric motor 62 in order to effect an increase of pressure .within the jug 44. This will force water out of the water outlet pipe 56 and up through the flexible conduit 88 in through the water inlet 86 of the water cooling reservoir 74 wherein the water is cooled by means of the refrigeration unit or assembly defined by the compressor 80, the condenser 82 and the blower assembly 84. If it is desired to draw water from the water cooling reservoir 74, the valve 94 may be actuated in order to draw water from the outlet neck 92. An open-top catch basin 104 is supported from the exterior of the end wall 12 and is secured over a splash plate 106 affixed to the outer surface of the wall 12.

The outer side of the upstanding closure wall or side 100 may be provided with suitable pull handles 108 and in this manner, it may be seen that the supporting frame 22 may be readily removed from the cabinet 20. After the supporting frame 22 has been removed to the extent indicated in FIGURE 4 by phantom lines, the stopper 52 may be removed from engagement with the jug 44 and utilized to replace the stopper 50 in the neck portion 48 of the water jug 46. After the water jug 46 has also been emptied, the supporting frame 22 may then be rolled, with the water jugs 44 and 46 thereon and after having removed the stoppers 50 and 52, to a Water utility outlet from which water may be drawn to replace the depleted supply of water within the jugs 44 and 46 or to a point where sealed bottle water is stored.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 7 ing a top and one open side, a water cooling reservoir in said cabinet having water outlet means disposed exteriorly of said cabinet, a wheeled support frame, an upstanding closure side supported from said frame and movable into position to close said open side of said cabinet upon rolling of said frame into said cabinet through said open side, at least one removable water container means supported from said frame and receivable, when positioned on the latter within said cabinet, said containermeans being sealed and including a water outlet and an air inlet, air pump means supported from said cabinet having an air outlet, and flexible conduit means communicating said air outlet with said air inlet and said water outlet with said water inlet, said flexible conduit means being removably engaged with said water container means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cabinet includes interior shelf supporting means disposed below said top and above said removable water container means, a shelf removably supported from said shelf supporting means, said water cooling reservoir being supported from said shelf, said air pump means including an actuating motor, said motor including a control system for actuation thereof including a pressure responsive control for actuating said motor in response to a fall of air pressure in said container means below a predetermined amount.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said water container means include a pair of upright necked containers.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wheeled support frame includes a plurality of caster wheel assemblies adapted to support said frame spaced slightly above the surface on which said caster wheels andsaid cabinet rest.

5. A liquid dispensing and cooling assembly comprising a cabinet having at least one side and the bottom thereof open, a carriage including low generally horizontal platform means adapted to support a liquid container thereon and including depending wheel means rollingly supporting the platform means, said platform means defining a bottom for the cabinet and dimensioned for recep tion in the latter, said carriage including an upstanding Wall dimensioned to form a closure for theopen side of the cabinet, and means carried by said cabinet adapted to dispense liquid carried in said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 798,112 1 8/ 05 Pelstring 62-390 1,980,945 11/34 Smith 312-293 2,182,116 12/39 Copeman 62-390 2,212,749 8/ 40 Pelouch 222-325 X 2,238,193 4/41 Stephens 62-390 I 2,506,448 5/50 Gregor 62-159 2,541,352, 2/51 Ginter 222-181 2,597,782 5/52 Fern 312-308 X 2,614,017 10/52 Mugnier 312-301 X 2,706,385 4/55 Topping 222-146 2,923,440 2/60 Ve Horn ..2 222-401 3,033,007 5/62 Lyman 62-391 X 3,105,616 10/63 Krup 222-146 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. EDWARD J. MICHAEL, LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiners. 

5. A LIQUID DISPENSING AND COOLING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CABINET HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDE AND THE BOTTOM THEREOF OPEN, A CARRIAGE INCLUDING LOW GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PLATFORM MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A LIQUID CONTAINER THEREON AND INCLUDING DEPENDING WHEEL MEANS ROLLINGLY SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM MEANS, SAID PLATFORM MEANS DEFINING THE BOTTOM FOR THE CABINET AND DIMENSIONED FOR RECEPTION IN THE LATTER, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING WALL DIMENSIONED TO FORM A CLOSURE FOR THE OPEN SIDE OF 